Accentuation mechanism for autopneumatic music-playing instruments.



. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903.- N. D. HOSLEY & S. R. HAROOURT. AGGENTUATIGNMECHANISM FOR AUTOPNEUMATIG MUSIC PLAYING INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILEDMAY 19, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 736,600. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903. N. D. HOSLEY & S. R. HARGOURT.

AGCENTUATION MECHANISM FOR AUTOPNEUMATIC MUSIC PLAYING INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1902. N0 MODEL. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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BEST AVAlLi- BLE so. 73s,eoo.

m val Patented August 18, 1903.

P TENT O FICE NELSON HOSLEY AND STILLWELL R. HARCOURT, OF MERIDEN, CON-NECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO \VILCOX titVVHITE COMPANY, OF MERIDEN,CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ACCENTUATION MECHANISM FOR AUlOPNEUMATIC MUSIC-PLAYING INSTRUMENTS.

"SPECIFTICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,600, dated August18, 1903.

' Application filed May 19, 1902. Serial No. 107,9'02. (No model.)

To all whom,- it may concern.-

Be it known that we,'NEL' soN D. HOSLEY and STILLWELL R; HARCOURT,citizens of the United States, both residing atfMeriden, in the countyof New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Acc'entuation Mechanism for Autopneumatic Music-PlayingInstruments, of which the following, together with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification sufficiently full, clear, and exact toenable per-' sons skilled in the art to which this invention appertainsto make and use the same.

The prime object ofonr present'invention is to provide means in anautomatic pianoplayer for controlling the accent in certain parts of themusic in a way that will enable the operator to more artistically bringout .melody or theme-notes in the composition as arranged on aperforated music-sheet, while thebassoraccompanimentnotes aresubdued, asmore fully hereinafter explained.

Another object is to matic music-playing action with a plurality ofchoker-controlled divisions of the flushing-leader, through whichexternal air is carried to the operating-pneumatics,thereby affordingfacilities for a varied potential in the effect of the pneumaticimpulses at different parts of the scale; also, .to provide means forseparately and unitedly manipulatingthe several choker mechanisms ormeans by which the air-induction is regulated or varied.

Another object is to provide in a pneumatic pianoplaying mechanism andfor controlling the air-supply to the flushing-leader and pneumatics, aninlet-choker device provided with a pneumatically-regulated inlet-valveand a controlling-valve having means for manipulation by the operator.

Another object is to provide means in an antopneumatic piano-player'ormusic-playing instru ment, of a plurality of inlet choker mechanismsoperated in conjunction with the mechanism that controls the soft-pedalof the piano and having manipulating devices disposed in such relationthat the several mechanisms can be manipulated with one hand by theoperator. v

For the attainment of these objects we have devised mechanism thenature, strucprovide an autopneutural organization, and mode ofoperation of which is explained in the following detailed description,the particular subject matter claimed being hereinafter definitelyspecified.

A practical embodiment of our invention as applied to an antopneumaticpiano-playing instrument is illustrated in the drawings, wherein- Figure1 represents a front view, partly in section. Fig. 2 represents a topView of the accentnation-manipulating devices. Fig. 3 is a plan sectionshowing the connection for working the choker-valves. Fig. 4 representsa sectional side elevation of the choker-valve box and the actuatingconnect-ion. Fig. 5 isa vertical sectional view showing the constructionand combination of the accentuation mechanism in relation to thepneumatic action and wind-chest, and Fig. 6 shows the choker-valve andits opening-spring.

The pneumatic music-playingaction in connection with which our inventionis in the present instance shown is in its general character similar tothat employed in the automatic piano-player described in Letters PatentNo. 592,641, and the arrangement of the tracker,primarypneumatics,flushing-valves, operating-pneumatics, action-puppets,and chest is substantially the same as described in Letters Patent No.470,323, both of which patents can be referred to for an understandingof the operation of any portions ,of the instrument not hereinparticularly shown and described. It will be understood, however, thatwe do not wish to confine our invention to the specific form andarrangement of primary and operating pneumatics shown in the saidLetters Patent, since it is obvious that the invention is applicable tomusic-playing instrumentsin which the pneumatics are otherwise formedand disposed, but acting on similarprinciples of inflation and collapsein connection with a flushing-leader. I

On the drawings the reference-letter C indicates the chest, chamber, orinclosure containing thesystem of pneumatics, and within the interior ofwhich there is induced a partial vacuum by exhaustion of the air, as atE, by means of suitable suction-bellows in wellknown manner.

.. W -s l FCVNLABLE (LL- B indicates the tracker-board, H the primaryor-sontrolling pneumatics, F the operating pneumatics, F theflushing-leader or air-supply conduit with valve-seat passagesand'windwaysfinto the larger pneumatics, G the puppet-valves thereforworked by the primary pneumatics as controlled by the perforated' musicsheet M passing over the tracker, and I and J the action-puppets andconnections that actuate the music-playing devices or fingers P,'all ofwhich parts can be of well-known or any suitable construction.

As a feature of our invention the interior chamber or flushing-leader Fis divided into a plurality of compartments 2 and 3 by a substantiallyair-tight partition 5, which may be 'a plate of sheet metal or othermaterial supported across the interior and preferably separating thetreble end from the bass end of the system or at such positions as maybe desired.

At convenient positions, preferably upon the front of the chest andcommunicating with the interior of the flushing-leader F by a suitableinlet-passage 4, we provide what we term chokers D and D, one for eachof the several leader-compartments. Said chokers, as shown, eachconsists of a body-plate 6 or box having an air-inlet space that opensinto the passage4and is furnished with a mouth-opening 8, guarded by ahinged stop-valve 7, and another opening guarded by a movable perforatedpadded member that seats against the body-plate 6 and is connected tothe box portion by flexible bellows-foldedge strips, thereby forming anautomatically-operable pneumatic choke-valve 9, that opens by exhaust ofthe internal air-pressu re.

Adjacent to the choke-valve 9 there is arranged a small collapsiblepneumatic 10, the movable part of which is provided with a suitable lug,preferably carrying an adjustingscrew or detent 12, that acts against aprojecting lug fixed on the valve member and tends to close saidchoke-valve 9 toward its seat and to regulate the action of the same inaccordance with the relative air-pressures within the leader and thevacuum-chamber, with which latter the interior of the pneumatic 10 isconnected by an air-duct 13, as best shown in Fig. 5.

' For operating the stop-valves 7 we provide endwise-movable actuatorsor rods 14 and 15, each having a push-button at its top end above therun-board 16 and connected at their lower ends at 17 and 19 for workingthe said valves by positive action, the actuator 14 connecting directwith the stop-valve of the choker D, and-the actuator for the distantchoker devices D connected to a cranked shaft 20, that in turn connectswith or works the stop-valve at the mouth of said choker, as best shownin Fig. 1. The actuators 14 and 15 and the cranked shaft 20 arearrangedin suitable bearings secured upon the tracker-board front or tosome suitable supporting part of the instrument.

The hinged valves 7 are each provided with a spring 18, (see Fig. 6,)that lifts the valve and normally tendsto keep the mouth of thechoker-box open and the actuator-rod and button elevated.

A depressor connection or rocker 21 is arranged for simultaneouslydepressing the ac-' tuators Hand 15 for closing the chokermouth valves 7Said depressor is preferably formed of a properly-bent wire journaled inhearings on the tracker-board and having an arm or member that by adownward swing engages above suitable offsets or lugs 24 and 25 on therespective actuators 14 and 15. The construction is such that saidactuators and the valves in connection therewith can be independentlydepressed without reference to the rocker or depressed in plurality bythe action of the rocker, or, again, either one of the valves worked bymeans of the rocker member while the other is held in depressed positionby pressure on its actuator-button. The

rocker 21 is operated in conjuction with the buttons of thevalve-actuator rods 14 and 15 that all can be conveniently included byone hand. (See Fig. 2.) The-handle-lever preferably swings in a curvedslot cut through the run-board, and the latter is best provided withanindeX-plate 29,denoting the accentuento positions for thehandle-lever; The shaft 26 is supported in suitable bearings and isprovided at its lower part with an offset arm or crank 30, that engageswith the pedal-controlling mechanism.

The means for moving the piano-pedal comprises an angle block or lever31, t'ulcrumed on the frame or casing at 32 and carrying apivotally-attached swivel-block 33, through which there is arranged ascrew-threaded rod 34, with nuts 35 above and below the swivelblock foradjustment of the rod therein, while the lower end of the rod isconnected to the arm of a lever 36, that extends rearward for engagementwith the pianissimopedal in in well-known or suitable manner.

The cranked lower end 30 of the shaft 26 swings against theangle-lever31, and the latter, through the rod 34 and connections, worksthe pedal of the piano when the handle-lever 23 is swung toward theleft.

A shaft 40 and pedal-operating connections 41, similar to those abovedescribed, are arranged for controlling the loud pedal of the piano.

The operation of the improved choker mechanism is as follows: When themouth 8 is open, the air passes in therethrough in full and freequantity and the pneumatic chokevalve 9 remains closed and inactive; butwhen said in outh-valve is positivelyclosed by ICC IIO

. I and the quantity demanded by the operatingis immediately establishedin the leader F- and passages by thesuction of theoperatingpneumatics'F'un'der the influence of the .partial vacuummaintainedin the chamber-C. This exhaust causes the collapse of thechokevalve pneumatic 9, overpowering the presserpneumatic 10, which isof much smaller area, thereby drawing said choke-valve away from itsseat, (see Fig. 5,) so that outside air can under resistance flow intherethrough to pass to the flushing-leader F inquantities proportionateto the resistance on said choke-valve pneumatics at any instant in theplaying. As the number of pneumatics in operation increases the suctionalso increases and the choke-valve becomes more opened, allowing moreair to pass in for flushing the large pneumatics, and vice versa. Thesmall pneumatic 10,acting under the direct influence of the. bellows-exhaust, presses against the choke-valve 9 as a variable spring,tending to force it toits seat with anefiect that is in ameasure-proportioned to the relation of the force of exhaust in thechamber 0, the flushing-supply in the leader F, and the quantity of airdemanded by a greater or less number of the operating-pneumatics calledupon to act at one time. Bythis arrangement the choker is automatic inits action and pneumatically regulated for allowing the requisitequantity, be it more or less, of outside air to pass in for flushing thepneumatics with the desired prom ptness and force, but as modified bythe resistance or choking effect of the devices.

The combination of swing-lever and shaft, plurality of chokers,push-button actuatorrods, and divided air-chamber enables the performerto obtain efiects in accentuation heretofore unattained in any priorform of automatic piano-playing mechanisms.

The idea involved in the arrangement and combination herein disclosed isto accentuate the melody or theme or certain notes of a composition asarranged on a perforated roll of music-paper, while the bass oraccompaniment notes are subdued, as a pianist would do infinger-playing. Where the theme of a musical composition is written inthe lower register, the melody can be played loud and the accompanimentsoft. the accentuation mechanism and method of playing the theme ormelody in the upper register loud and the accompaniment soft is asfollows: Assuming the autopnenmatic playing action to be in operation,then the performer places a finger of his left hand upon the actuatorend or stop-device pushbutton 14 and with the thumb of the same handholds the lever 28 to extreme left or at the line L, thus closing bothchokers and causing the notes throughout the whole register to be struckwith equal force. N ow'at The operation ofthe instant the perforationsin the musicsheet representing the note or notes to be emphasized passesto the holes or ducts in the tracker the lever 28 is suddenly releasedor shifted by moving the thumb to the right and the lever immediatelyreturned or swung back to its primal position at the left, therebycausing a more or less quick closure and re opening of the valve 7 ofthe choker D, while holding down the button 14 with the finger. Thismotion opens the upper-register choker at D just as the perforations fornotes to be emphasized uncover the ducts in the tracker and allows agreater inrush of air to the pneumatics F, consequently causing them tostrike a harder blow than the pneumatics in the lower register, as thefinger by holding down the button keeps the valve 7 of the choker Dclosed, thereby choking the air that enters the leader for operating thepneumatics of the bass notes, causing them to strike a light blow. Notesin the lower register can be played louder than notes in the upperregister by operating the lever 28 in the same manner, but with thefinger holding down the actuator push-button 15, that operates themouth-valve of the upper-register choker. While playing, theaccentuation can be inthe lower-register notes, if desired, shifting thepressure of the finger push-button 14 to the push-button 15. The effectof the action of the swing-lever 28 and its shaft 26, as above stated,is to operate the rocker 21 and cause the depression and rise of theactuator-rod which is not being held down-by the finger, relieving foran instant the choke on the inflow of air and at the same time workingthe piano-pedal.

What we claim as of our invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. In an autopneumatic music-playing instrument, the combination withthe windchest and series of operating-pneumatics, a flushing air-chambercomprising a plurality of separate compartments, windways therefrom intothe respective pneumatics, inletby merely ing-compartments, a separateinlet choker appliance consisting of an internally-chaminlet-passage,and having two entrance-Ways for air, provided with a pneumatic chokingmember disposed atone of said entrance-ways for opening and closing thesame by pneuthe other entrance-way; actuating stops and connectionsthatindivid ually control the several stop-valves, and an actuatingmeans for effecting simultaneous closure of valves, for the purposes setforth.

2. In an automatic music-playing instrument, the combination, with theflushing aircompartment, its inlet-passage, and the main vacuum-chamber; of an inletcontrolling nection with the inlet-passage throughwhich from the passages for ingress of air to the several fiush-' beredbody afiixed to the wind-chest over each.

said stoppneumatic choke member arranged-in con-' stantly changed fromthe upper-register to IIO matic influence, and a stop-valve for closingair enters said compartment and actuated by air-pressure induced by theexhaust of said compartment, a supplementary pneumatic device having itsinterior connected by an air-duct with said vacuum-chamber and actuatedby airpressure induced by the ex-' haust of said vacuum-chamber, meansfor transmitting force and motion from said supplementary pneumaticdevice to said pneumatic choke member, an inlet-way and acontrolling-valve that aifords, when open, a free entrance for the airinto the passage to said compartment, and when closed causes theentering air to pass -under the influence of said pneumatic chokemember, substantially as set forth.

3. A choker appliance for pneumatic music-playing actions of thecharacter described, consisting of a box or 'body having-an inletway forair, provided with a mouth-opening, a valve-seat, and a normally openstop-valve therefor; and a second inlet-way provided with apneumaticallyactuated choke member adapted to close or openautomatically, by the exhaust influence within the interior of the box,and means for operating said mouth-stopping valve controlled by theperformer.

4. In'a pneumatic action for music-playing instruments, the combinationwith powerpneumatics, aflushing-leader, and windways from said leaderinto the power-pneumatics; of a choker appliance comprising a manuallyoperated valve, and a pneumaticallybperated valve severallycontrolling separate air-inlet passaggngthereinto, and a passage-wayfrom said cho er appliance into the flushing-leader, for the purpose setforth.

5. In combination with a pneumatic musicplaying action, its air-supplyconduit, vacuum-chamber, and means forexhaustion of air from saidchamber, a choker-appliance comprising an air-inlet way provided with astopvalve, and a pneumatically moved chokevalve its pneumatic motorinternally comm unicating with the inlet-way, means for manipulatingsaid stop valve, and a smaller pneumatic having an air-ductcommunicating with the vacuum-chamber, and provided with a contactmember that acts against said pneumatic choke-valve to regulate theextent of its opening.

6. In combination with a pneumatic musicplaying action, an accentuationmechanism comprising a pin rality of choker appliances havin'gmouth-controlling valves, connecting means whereby said valves areindependently operated, and actuators therefor provided withfinger-pressible ends, and a swinging handle-lever for efiecting theaccentua- 'tion action, said handle-lever and the-finger pressible endsof said actuators being disposed adjacent'to each other withinconvenient span for manipulation by one and the same hand, and foroperation substantially as set forth.

ing mechanisni,in combination with the pneumatics that operate themusic-playin g devices, and the flush-valves therefor,a flushing-leaderor wind-chamber divided into a plurality of separated compartments, eachcompartment having an individual inlet-passage for outside air, aplurality of chokerdevices respectively connected with saidin1et-passages,individual actuators having finger-buttons andconnections for separately controlling said choker devices, and meansadjacent thereto adapted for unitedly manipulating the chokermouthvalves, substantially as set forth.

8. In a pneumatic action for piano-playing instruments, in combination,a series of operating pneumatics, flush valves therefor, valve-actuatingprimary pneumatics controlled by a traveling perforated music-sheet,

a wind-chest containing said pneumatics, a flushing air-conductor, adividing-partition within said flushing air-conductor, separate chokermechanisms for the treble and bass portions of the instrument, theexpression pedal-actuating connections, means substantially as describedfor independently controllingsaid choker mechanisms, means adapted 4 forsimultaneously controlling the same in conjunction with the working ofthe expression-pedal-actua-ting connections, and a pneumatic regulatingmeans for said choker mechanism.

9. The combination as described, of the wind-chest containing the systemof pneumatics, the interior chamber, a partition dividing the interiorchamber for separate airsupply to the upper and lower register sections,an inlet-way for air leading into each division of said chamber from theexterior of thewind-chest, a choker mechanism for the inlet-way to eachsection, com'prisingahinged mouth-valve and a pneumatic choke-valve, theadjacent-1y disposed actuators having push-button heads, ofiset lugsbelow, and lower ends connected with the respective hinged mouth-valves,a rocker device acting against said lugs, and the controller-shafthaving the swing-lever handle adjacent to said push-buttons, andprovided with an OK- set or crank portion that operates said rocker,substantially as set forth.

10. The combinatiomwith the upright shaft havingthe cranked lower endand the top end handle-lever; of the pedal-actuating bar; an angle-levercarrying the swivel-block, and the threaded rod connected to saidpedal-actuating bar and arranged through said swivelblook, withadjusting-nuts threaded on said rod above and below the swivel-block,for the purpose set forth.

Witness our hands this 30th day of April,

NELSON D. HOSLEY. STILLWELL R. HAROOURT. Witnesses:

JAMES H. WHITE, Y

7. In a pneumatically-operated music-play- FRANK 0. WHITE.

